David Hu

David Hu is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his SB (2001) and PhD (2006) in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. His research focuses on fluid mechanics and biomechanics, particularly studying how insects and animals interact with their physical environments, such as survival mechanisms in rainstorms and the physics of animal shaking behavior. He has developed interdisciplinary educational tools like BLOSSOMS modules to teach high school students about fluid dynamics through real-world biological examples. His recent work includes studies on mosquito rain survival, dog shake mechanics, and applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in medical diagnostics.

Education: SB and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. His research spans fluid dynamics, biological systems, and medical imaging technologies. He collaborates across disciplines to bridge engineering principles with biological phenomena, with a focus on translating findings into practical technologies and educational resources.

Research interests include fluid-structure interactions in nature, biomimetic robotics, and advanced imaging techniques for clinical applications. His work on animal behavior has been featured in media like Good Morning America and the New York Times. He emphasizes scale effects in engineering and biology, using principles from both fields to solve complex problems.